FULL-TIMEIt's all over in Johannesburg and Argentina stroll into the quarter-finals to face Germany. Mexico will feel rightly robbed after a terrible offside decision gave the South Americans a platform in the game that they hadn't earned in the opening stages. A gift of a second set Argentina on their way, before Tevez hit a screamer to all-but seal the win. Hernandez's stunning strike midway through the second half gave them hope of a comeback, but the two-goal salvo before the break had left them with too much to do against an Argentina team who will always be a threat on the break.

90'

TESTER FOR PEREZMessi comes alive and jinks into space, but sees Perez equal to his curling shot from the edge of the area. He is yet to score at this tournament, which is staggering when you consider his performances in the group stage.

87'

PETERING OUTThe atmosphere has died down in Soccer City as both sets of fans seem to have come to the conclusion that this game is going nowhere now. Argentina have had to do little to win thanks to huge errors by first the linesman and then the centre-back, although one stunning strike per side has added some quality since the break.

83'

TIME IS RUNNING OUTArgentina are using all the tricks in the book to disrupt the flow of this game, and Mexico look to have run out of time. As it stands, Argentina will face Germany in a quarter-final that promises terrific entertainment.

80'

ALMOST A SECOND!Franco's gets the ball back from a short corner and whips in a cross that almost finds Marquez at the back post, but he can't get the all-important touch due to a terrific defensive header by Heinze - who then stays down clutching his face to lose his dignity after earning plaudits for such wonderful last-ditch defending.

78'

CHANGE FOR ARGENTINADi Maria makes way for a more defensive option in Gutierrez, who will be more comfortable in his favourite position on the left of midfield than he was at right-back.

75'

THEY NEED THE BALLIf Mexico stand any chance of getting back into this then they need to get hold of the ball, but with Veron and Messi on the opposing side that is not a simple task.

71'

MORE ON THAT GOALThere seemed little immediate danger when Giovani slipped the ball into the feet of Hernandez with his back to goal on the edge of the box, but the new Manchester United signing spun Demichelis with his first touch before hammering a superb shot into the near top corner from a tight angle. It was a stunning goal, and Mexico will still be dreaming of an historic comeback after that.

70'

GOOAAALLL!!!Hernandez makes it 3-1 with a peach of a strike and there is still hope for Mexico!

69'

OFF THE LINEA cross in by Barrera is bundled goal-wards, but Heinze throws himself through the air and hooks off the line!

68'

ARGENTINA CHANGETeves comes off to be replaced by Veron as Argentina look to get an extra body in the centre of the park... although to call Veron 'a body' is a huge disservice - he is one of the best passers of the football of the last generation, and will play a big part in the counter-attacking style his side are using.

65'

THREAT ON THE BREAKArgentina are happy to sit back now, let Mexico play in front of them, and then send Messi, Tevez, Di Maria, Maxi and Higuain forward on the break. That quality on the counter-attack is something few, if any, teams in this tournament can match, and more goals here are not unlikely.

63'

OVER THE BAR!Hernandez has a free header in the box, but can't keep his effort down and yells at the sky in frustration. It just doesn't look like this is Mexico's night.

61'

MEXICO CHANGEMexico go for broke, bringing on Franco to lead the line in place of midfielder Guardado.

59'

INTO THE SIDE NETTINGBarrera cuts into the box from the left, beating two men, but opts to shoot from the tightest of angles, and can only find the side netting of Romero's goal.

55'

RESCUED BY JUAREZRodriguez is the last man for Mexico, but gives the ball straight to Tevez, and is grateful to Juarez for tracking back and cutting off the striker inside the box. The Mexicans are all over the place, and need to get control of this game if they are to prevent humiliation.

52'

MORE ON THAT GOALIf the other two Argentine goals were somewhat fortuitous, that was far, far from it! Tevez attempted to wriggle into space and latched on to a rebound well outside the area. Hitting the ball on the turn first time, it lashed past Perez and into the top right corner before the keeper could barely move. The writing is on the wall for Mexico now.

51'

GOOAAALLL!!!Carlos Tevez makes it 3-0 with a stunning strike, and that's surely game over now.

50'

OVERHIT CROSSGiovani does well to work the ball out to Barrera on the left, but the sub's cross in flies to the back post, where there are no green-shirted Mexicans waiting to get on the end of it. Bit of a waste, that.

48'

PROMISING STARTMexico have impressed at the start of the second half and appear to have calmed down a little. There's still time for a comeback, but they will need to start causing more of a consistent threat in and around the box.

47'

NOT HIS BESTA Mexico corner is cleared, but only as far as Salcido. The left-back has already shown how capable he is of shooting from distance in this game, but it's not his best effort, dribbling wide.

46'

MEXICO CHANGEBautista was rather ineffective for Mexico and is replaced on the left of the front three by Barrera.

46'

SECOND HALFWe're back underway for the second half at Soccer City.

45'

HALF TIMEThe whistle goes to bring an end to a first half that saw Mexico outplay their opponents, before a terrible offside call that has changed the shape of this game. A fracas on the touchline mars the end of the opening 45 minutes, but the referee eventually separates the players and both squads finally disappear down the tunnel.

45'

INCHES AWAYSalcido cuts back and whips in a great inswinging cross from deep. Any touch from Hernandez would have been a goal, but the striker can't quite reach far enough and Romero claims.

44'

INTO ROMERO'S MIDRIFFMarquez has a go from distance and makes good contact, but the Argentina keeper positions himself well and claims comfortably.

41'

SHOULD HAVE BEEN THREEMessi's delightful run creates space for Argentina to get another ball into the box, which finds Higuain. The striker had a clear sight of it, but failed to make decent contact and slides his header wide.

37'

GET A GRIP!It was another terrible error by Osorio that gave Argentina the platform for that last chance, and the defender gets a lecture from his captain to sort it out. He's having a nightmare, and hasn't recovered well from giving away the second goal.

36'

TIMELY INTERVENTIONTevez's cross looks to have picked out Messi at the back stick, and it has goal written all over it, until Torrado pulls off a wonderful defensive header to take the ball away from the waiting World Player of the Year.

34'

ANOTHER SUPERB SHOTSalcido has another go from distance, forcing the keeper into a sprawling save. Romero did well there, but it was another stunning attempt by the Mexico wing-back.

33'

MORE ON THAT GOALArgentina have done next to nothing, but are 2-0 up! If the last goal was a gift from the officials, this one was laid on a plate for them by Osorio. The defender inexplicably laid the ball off to Higuain, giving the striker the chance to round the keeper and tuck home. It's a dreadful error!

32'

GOOAAALLL!!!It's Gonzalo Higuain who's got it, and Argentina are in pole position to go through now!

28'

YELLOW CARDMexico are furious about that goal, but will have to keep their heads. Marquez doesn't - hacking down Messi - and the skipper picks up a booking.

26'

CONTROVERSYSoccer City have shown the replay for the goal on the big screen and the Mexico players are surrounding the linesman after seeing just how bad a decision that was. The officials look flustered, but there's nothing they can do now, the decision has to stand... even though it's the wrong one.

25'

MORE ON THAT GOALMessi's through-ball found Tevez. The striker was denied by Perez, but Messi's follow up chip was headed into the back of the net by Tevez. Replays show that Tevez was miles offside, but the goal stands.

24'

GOOAAALLL!!!Carlos Tevez scores for Argentina!

22'

GREEN ON TOP IN MIDFIELDWith no Veron in the centre, it is Mexico who are winning the battle in central midfield, preventing Argentina from bringing their front-two or wide men into the game.

20'

THE MASKS ARE OUTOne of Maradona's more memorable quotes from his lively World Cup press conferences was that he 'is not afraid of anybody... unless they're wearing a mask.' That immediately evoked visions of the wrestling masks that the Mexican fans wear, and unsurprisingly they are out in full force this evening.

16'

WAKE-UP CALLArgentina may have been expected to dominate this evening, but that has been far from the case in the opening stages. Both teams have had a fair amount of possession in the centre of the park, but Mexico have been the better side, creating more in the final third and will have given the Argentina coaches something to think about.

14'

SILKY LINK-UP PLAYGiovani plays a lovely flicked pass to Hernandez, who goes for goal, only to hit his shot wide. A slipped lay-off to Bautista may have been the better option, but Mexico are really ticking up top.

13'

WIDE OF THE POSTA corner is only cleared as far as Di Maria, but he slices his shot and it goes wide, despite being helped on by Burdisso.

12'

COMFORTABLE SAVEMessi goes for a delicate chip at the end of another trademark run, but sees his shot comfortably plucked out of the air by Perez.

10'

LET'S KEEP IT CLEANTorrado goes in way too hard on Messi and is given a warning by the ref. They may be out in the middle, but the message is clear - next time it's a yellow.

9'

FRACTIONALLY WIDEMexico attack at pace again and work space for Guardado to have a shot from outside of the area. He beats the keeper, but sees his effort whistle just past the post, taking a sliver of paint with it.

8'

OFF THE BAR!!!Salcido hits an incredible shot from out on the left, which gives Romero all sorts of problems and cannons back off the bar. That would have been one of the classic World Cup goals had it gone in - wonderful hit!

6'

FIRST SHOT FOR MESSIThe World Player of the Year bursts forward in that typically shuffling style, but sees his shot blocked in the box.

4'

SLOW STARTBoth teams have been content to try and keep possession in the opening minutes and get a feel for the game. However, the early signs are that Mexico aren't going to let Argentina have the midfield battle all their own way - unlike in the three group games.

2'

EARLY THREATMarquez - who is playing just in front of the Mexico back-four - hits a lovely pass forward towards Giovani, but the striker just can't manage to control the ball and an early opportunity to get in behind goes begging.

1'

KICK-OFFMexico get the game underway through the two new additions to the team Hernandez and Bautista.

0'

THE ANTHEMSThe large travelling Argentine faithful belt out their anthem, but are completely overshadowed by the efforts of the even bigger Mexican contigent, whose jovial march of an anthem almost brings the house down. Now for the important stuff...

0'

HERE COME THE PLAYERSThe flags of these two nations emerge for the tunnel, followed by the 22 players lucky enough to start such a huge game.

0'

THE VENUESoccer City is a fitting venue for this fixture. All the talk prior to the game is about Argentina's attacking potential, and if they click then this tournament will truly get the game it deserves.

0'

THESE TWO HAVE PREVIOUSThis game is a repeat of the last-16 tie four years ago, and if it comes even close to matching that entertainment then we'll be in for a terrific evening. The magnificent Marquez opened the scoring for Mexico, but Argentina sent the game to extra time, before Maxi's memorable winner, controlled on his chest and volleyed in from the corner of the box. Expect a similarly open, attacking game tonight.

0'

MEXICO TEAM NEWSMexico manager Javier Aguirre is confident ahead of the game, saying 'Nobody is betting their bottom dollar on us, nobody believes in our future, but we will see'. With the pace of Hernandez - who has come in for Blanco - and Giovani looking to test Argentina on the break, it's not hard to see why Mexico will fancy their chances of causing one of the upsets of the tournament this evening.

0'

ARGENTINA TEAM NEWSArgentina bring back Di Maria and Mascherano to a side that essentially sees a front-three supported by two attacking wingers, leaving Mascherano as the lone man to protect a shambolic defence by international standards. Heinze does return, while Otamendi and Burdisso continue in place of Samuel and Gutierrez, but the back-line still looks shaky.

0'

EARLY TEAM NEWSWalter Samuel is unlikely to return, meaning Nicolas Burdisso is expected to remain at the heart of Argentina defence. Jonas Gutierrez is available after suspension and could slot in at right-back - despite his shaky performances in that role. Coach Diego Maradona will have to decide between Maxi Rodriguez or Juan Veron in midfield and Carlos Tevez or Sergio Aguero up front. Efrain Juarez returns from suspension for Mexico, and Carlos Vela is back in training but unlikely to start - with the pace of Giovani dos Santos and Javier Hernandez expected to lead the line and expose Argentina's suspect defence.

0'

PREVIEWArgentina against Mexico is one of the most attractive last 16 matches. It will be first real test for an Argentinean side that cruised through their group playing some of the best football of the World Cup so far. Diego Maradona's attack-minded team have been talked up as possible winners after their impressive start to the tournament. But Mexico have what it takes to pull off a real shock after deservedly making it out of Group A ahead of France and hosts South Africa, playing some decent football in the process.